Family told there’s no room at the inn on Christmas Day

Charlotte Eaton and her three children were turned away from Travelodge in Southport

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A mum has been left scrambling for a Christmas hotel room after Southport’s new Travelodge’s opening was delayed for a third time.

The 101-room hotel was originally set to open at its Lord Street site in October but announced last month that they were now hoping to open “in time for Christmas”.

That date has now been pushed back to the New Year leaving mother-of-three, Charlotte Eaton worried that she will have to postpone her annual festive trip to Southport to visit her family.

Charlotte, who is originally from Southport, but now lives in Sheffield, said: “I booked into the Travelodge over six months ago from December 25-28, not knowing that it was yet to be built.

“My sister told me a few weeks ago that it was still being built and I immediately panicked and rang Travelodge who assured me there were no delays and everything was on track for the official opening on December 5.”

Travelodge then emailed Charlotte on December 9 telling her the hotel would not be open until January 20 and suggesting that she transfer her booking to the Travelodge in Blackpool before finding her and her family rooms at the Premier Inn Southport.

“I am totally disgusted and I am sure I am not the only person due to visit Southport this Christmas that has been let down,” said Charlotte.

“It’s two weeks before Christmas and this really is a nightmare for me.”

The budget hotel firm’s £6m conversion of the former bus station has helped create over 20 jobs locally with future plans including a restaurant opened in conjunction with TV chef Marco Pierre-White.

A Travelodge spokes-person said: “We would like to sincerely apologise to our customers who have been affected by the delay in the opening of our Southport Travelodge hotel.

“Our 101-room hotel development in Southport town centre is part of a Grade ll listed building and unfortunately the work in this segment has taken a lot longer than originally planned by the developers.

“As a result of this unexpected delay we have been working very closely with our customers who have a booking at this hotel over the next few weeks and we have offered them the option to either transfer their booking to another nearby Travelodge hotel or an alternative hotel in Southport at no additional cost or the option for a full refund.

“Our customers have been very supportive of the situation and the majority of bookings have been dealt with. We are just waiting to hear back from a couple of customers regarding which option would work best.

“The building team is working around the clock and we are hopeful that the hotel will be open for business in late January. Once again we would like to sincerely apologise to our customers who have been affected by this delay.”